ARDEN CONCERT GILD

Autumn in Arden officially begins Friday, Sept. 18, as In The Light presents Pink Floyd’s Animals and Wish You Were Here—and tickets are selling faster than pumpkin spice lattes. This is the same band that rocked the Gild with their 2012 Led Zeppelin Physical Graffiti show – and it was epic, so don’t miss this one. Arden next welcomes The Cumbia All Stars on Sunday, Sept. 20. This is a nine-piece band with legends of Peruvian dance music. On Friday, Oct. 2, critically acclaimed Baltimore synth-pop titans Lower Dens hit the stage, celebrating their breakthrough album, Escape From Evil. Sheer Mag, an Indie “band to watch,” appears Saturday, Oct. 17, followed by a Blues doubleheader from the Damon Fowler Band and Alvin Youngblood Hart on Saturday, Nov. 7.Arden Gild Hall, 2126 The Highway, Arden 475-3126 • ardenconcerts.com

THE ARTS AT TRINITY

Trinity is home to the only free music series in the city, and its new season brings renowned regional talents: Serafin String Quartet at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 25, followed by a moving Festival Mass of All Souls, featuring Mozart’s Requiem, by the Trinity Choir with chamber orchestra, on Sunday, Nov. 1 at 10:30 a.m. An Evening of Gospel and Jazz with the Wilson Somers Trio fills the sanctuary on Saturday, Nov. 14, at 7:30 p.m. and a holiday-themed performance—Christmas with the Cathedral Choir School of Delaware—puts you in the spirit on Saturday, Dec. 12, at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free for all performances; donations gratefully accepted.1108 N. Adams St., Wilmington 887.9300 • TheArtsatTrinity.org

BOOTLESS STAGEWORKS

Celebrating the second season in its new digs, Bootless starts 15-16 with Star Wars: A New Musical Hope (Oct. 9 -17). This semi-original work is a parody of Episode IV: A New Hope, with a witty script by local playwright Jeremy Gable, music by Timothy Edward Smith and Hunter Nolen, a fully robotic R2D2, seven-foot Chewbacca and all the space rebels you love. Tickets are $15 online or $18 at the door. November shines with The Light in the Piazza (Nov. 6-21), the story of young love featuring Peabody Conservative alumna Kimberly Christie as Clara. Tickets are $22 online or $25 at the door. Finally, (responsibly) toast the holidays with Bye, Bye Liver: The Philadelphia Drinking Play (Wilmington Edition), Dec. 4-5. This fast-paced romp is two parts sketch comedy, one part audience drinking game with a dash of improv and a slice of music, served up for your entertainment. All tickets are $20.
1301 N. Broom St., Wilmington • 887-9300 • bootless.org

BRANDYWINE BAROQUE

The Barn at Flintwoods—the serene and picturesque home of this early music ensemble—once again fills with beautiful music on Sunday, Sept. 27, with selections from The Fairy Queen, a lavish “semi-opera” by Henry Purcell. The concert season continues with a program of Vivaldi concertos on Friday, Dec. 11, and Sunday, Dec. 13. Details and tickets are available at brandywinebaroque.org.
The Barn at Flintwoods, 205 Center Meeting Rd., Wilmington
877-594-4546 • brandywinebaroque.org

CHAPEL STREET PLAYERS

A Night of One Acts (Sept. 12-13) kicks off the season at Chapel Street Players, followed by Alone Together (Oct. 17, 18, 23, 24, 25), a witty commentary on grown children leaving the nest – only to return again. It’s a Wonderful Life—a Live Radio Play (Dec. 5, 6, 11, 12, 13) brings to life the beloved holiday-season drama, and Staged Reading: A Behanding in Spokane (Jan. 23-24) is a dark comedy about a man who has been searching for his missing hand for many years.
27 N. Chapel St., Newark
368-2248 • chapelstreetplayers.org

CHRISTINA CULTURAL ARTS CENTER

CCAC is registering now for fall, offering several new courses, including Novel Writing for Beginners with Jayne Thompson, and Drum Line with Peter Antony. Call 652.0101 for details. CCAC’s signature event, the Christi Awards, returns Friday, Oct. 23, bringing an electric party vibe to Wilmington with the theme, Arts for Our City’s Sake. The evening begins with renowned jazz pianist Aaron Diehl, followed by the awards ceremony in historic Willingtown Square and an open-air, arts-infused party on Market Street. Tickets are $75 and are available at ChristiAwards.org. In December, CCAC dazzles your holidays with the magnificent “Carols in Color,” featuring Eleone Dance Theatre.
705 N. Market St., Wilmington
652-0101 • ccacde.org

CITY THEATER COMPANY

Delaware’s Off-Broadway kicks off a season of Delaware Premieres, first reuniting CTC with the writers of their 2013 smash Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson—this time for a rollicking musical comedy based on Shakespeare’s Love’s Labour’s Lost (Dec. 4-19). CTC’s Fearless Improv team continues to deliver monthly belly laughs on second Saturdays through December at Penn’s Place in historic New Castle. Details and tickets for all are available at city-theater.org.
Performance address: The Black Box, 4 S. Poplar St., Wilmington 220-8285 • city-theater.org

DELAWARE ART MUSEUM

Poetry in Beauty, running Saturday, Nov. 7, through Sunday, Jan. 31, is a retrospective of Marie Spartali Stillman, showcasing her importance as an artist within the Victorian avant-garde. The landmark exhibition features landscapes, portraits and subject paintings that reflect her British Pre-Raphaelite training and Renaissance art influence, with works from public and private collections. The exhibit is open Wednesdays through Sundays and is free on Thursday evenings and Sundays. Later in the season, warm up with the Museum’s Winter Arts Festival on Friday, Dec. 11, 5-8 p.m., and Saturday, Dec. 12, 10 a.m.-4 p.m…Browse handmade items by local artisans, tour festive works in the museum collection, enjoy holiday music and more. Admission is free for members and $5 for non-members.2301 Kentmere Pkwy., Wilmington • 571-9590 • delart.org

DELAWARE CENTER FOR THE CONTEMPORARY ARTS

The DCCA is busting at its steel beams with all manner of ArtStuff. Case in point, every first Friday events. Sept. 4 features all 10 Rolling Revolution food trucks; Oct. 2 sees Wilmington Ballet Academy of the Dance collaborating with ensemble Mélomanie; and Dec. 4 pairs “Taste of the Holidays” with DCCA’s annual Holiday Craft Show. At the Fall Arts & Business and Members Cocktail Party on Thursday, Sept. 17, Andy McWilliams of Art-A-Hack and Hardware Hack Lab speaks about “Artists and Technology Disruptions.” October opens the signature Art Salad lunchtime discussions, followed by Free Family Sundays in November. The highlight of the fall season will surely be the Contemporary Gala—an elegant night of art, music, dancing and unconventional entertainment on Saturday, Nov. 14. And remember, admission to the DCCA is always free!200 S. Madison St., Wilmington • 656-6466 • thedcca.org

DELAWARE SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL

When shall we three meet again?
In thunder, lightning, or in rain?
When the hurly-burly’s done, when the battle’s lost and won…
Spend a night with two masters of macabre—William Shakespeare and Edgar Allan Poe. At this annual autumnal event, DelShakes actors gather to read bone-chilling selections from the plays of the Bard and the poems and short stories of Poe. Dare to choose among three spooky-cool venues—the gothic halls of Rockwood Mansion, the grandeur of the Read House & Gardens in historic New Castle or the colonial-era Stone Stable in historic Odessa. But choose quickly—only 30 seats are available for each performance. Tickets are $18.50. Performances run Oct.16-18 and Oct. 23-25.
Performance address: Rockwood Park, 4651 Washington St. Ext., Wilmington 415-3373 • delshakes.org

DELAWARE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

This month, Alan Jordan takes the helm as the new executive director of the DSO. Jordan’s tenure coincides with the launch of DSO’s season. Called The Season of the Bells, it begins with a Friday, Sept. 11, memorial concert featuring Mozart’s Requiem and a collaboration with The Mastersingers of Wilmington. The full season includes the Classics Concert Series of five programs and the Chamber Concert Series of four programs, as well as the Explorer Experience concerts for school children. Maestro David Amado continues in his 13th year as music director of the DSO.818 N. Market St., Wilmington 656-7442 • delawaresymphony.org

DELAWARE THEATRE COMPANY

DTC proudly continues as the only area theater developing new and existing works for Broadway. Maurice Hines is Tappin’ Thru Life (Sept. 16-Oct. 4), starring and created by Hines himself, opens DTC’s 37th season. An infectious musical tribute to his and his brother Gregory’s life, this show joins Maurice with the Diva Orchestra, the Manzari Brothers and one lucky local child tapper. Next is Wilmington native David Robson’s Playing the Assassin (Oct. 21-Nov. 8), based on the true story of the career-ending hit delivered by Jack Tatum on Darryl Stingley in a 1978 NFL game. It’s an exploration into the inherent violence of football and the associated “hero worship.” Join DTC for its final production, Sheryl Crow’s new musical, Diner (Dec. 2-27), based on the 1982 movie by Barry Levinson. Single tickets for all shows and subscriptions are available now.200 Water St., Wilmington • 594-1100 • DelawareTheatre.org

FIRST STATE BALLET THEATRE

First State Ballet Theatre opens with a lineup that will delight everyone from the first-time ballet-goer to the most sophisticated aficionado. The first of the company’s productions at the Grand is Tchaikovsky’s beloved Sleeping Beauty. The timeless tale is choreographed by Artistic Director Pasha Kambalov, with costumes from Russia’s finest ballet costumiers. The popular series Up Front with FSBT delivers highlights of classical and contemporary ballet to an intimate audience of just 75, followed by a reception with FSBT’s dancers. Celebrate the holidays with The Nutcracker—a Wilmington’s holiday tradition at the Grand—with gorgeous costumes from Russia, Tchaikovsky’s sumptuous score and staging by Kambalov. All main stage tickets begin at $14 for students 18 and under. Call 1-800-37-GRAND or visit ticketsatthegrand.org.
Performance venue: 818 N. Market St., Wilmington • 658-7897 • firststateballet.com

GABLE MUSIC VENTURES

Gable continues to deliver lush, live lyrics to Wilmingtonians’ ears. Wilmo Wednesdays—a curated lineup from every musical corner—rolls on weekly at the Queen, along with Singer-Songwriter showcases on Saturday, Sept. 12, and Oct. 24. Gable fills the Queen with rooms—not only a wall—of sound on Saturday, Sept. 26, as Angela Sheik takes over upstairs and Save the Valley Music Fest headlines downstairs with Arden Kind, Area 302, SIRSY, New Sweden and more. Tickets are $15 in advance for each performance. And for a mere $20, Wilmo Rock Circus will sonically kick you out of your turkey/tryptophan coma on Saturday, Nov. 28.
Performance venues: World Cafe Live at the Queen, 500 N. Market St.; Extreme Pizza, 201 N. Market St., Wilmington • gablemusicventures.com

THE GRAND OPERA HOUSE/THE PLAYHOUSE ON RODNEY SQUARE

The “coming together” of the Grand and the Playhouse earlier this year created quite the arts buzz. They upped the ante with two exciting seasons, including the blockbuster musical Annie opening first at the Playhouse (Dec. 1-6), and a full slate of performances on both Grand and baby grand stages: Sinatra Centennial by Sean Reilly on Sunday, Oct. 18; Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox on Friday, Nov. 13, and the Glenn Miller Orchestra on Saturday, Nov. 28. Tickets for all shows are available now.818 N. Market St., Wilmington • 800.37.GRANDTheGrandWilmington.org for all Grand events 1007 N. Market St., Wilmington • 888-0200

MÉLOMANIE

The “provocative pairings” of this 2015 Best of Delaware ensemble are juxtaposed with contemporary works of the DCCA’s featured gallery artists. Their concert on Sunday, Sept. 13, at 2 p.m. features its co-artistic directors—harpsichordist Tracy Richardson and DDOA Masters Fellow and flutist Kimberly Reighley. They will premier two new works, one from a local and another from an international composer. Friday, Oct. 2, aligns the ensemble with Wilmington Ballet Academy of the Dance for a performance during DCCA’s Art Loop. Their Sunday, Oct. 18, performance at 2 p.m. features another World Premiere piece, this time by composer, guitarist and guest artist Kevin J. Cope.
Performance address: Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts, 200 S. Madison St., Wilmington • 764.6338 • melomanie.org

THE MUSIC SCHOOL OF DELAWARE

The Music School serves up performances for every taste, beginning with A Musical Bounty on Thursday, Oct. 15, at 7 p.m. featuring its Faculty Chamber Orchestra performing Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. Welcome renowned singer-songwriter Doug James (Michael Bolton’s “How Am I Supposed to Live without You”) for a songwriting workshop on Nov. 7 and a CD release/concert on Nov. 14, in memory of Larry Walker, who was James’ mentor and a Music School faculty member. On Nov. 8, alumna and Philadelphia Orchestra violinist Barbara Govatos returns for a performance.4101 Washington St., Wilmington • 762.1132 • musicschoolofdelaware.org

NEW CANDLELIGHT DINNER THEATER

Candlelight season starts with the tasty “shock and awe” of Sondheim and Wheeler’s most notorious coiffeur, Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Sept. 19- Nov. 1). Next, the madcap life of the eccentric Mame takes over (Nov. 14-Dec. 20). Performances are Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoons. Tickets are $59 for adults and $33 children (ages 4-12) and all prices include a buffet dinner.2208 Millers Rd., Wilmington • 475-2313 candlelighttheatredelaware.com

UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE’S REP THEATER

The REP starts with The Patsy (Sept. 23 -Oct. 11)—a lightning-fast French farce of old lovers, new flames and a wildfire of compromising positions, translated and adapted from Georges Feydeau’s Le Dindon by Greg Leaming. The onstage antics continue with Heartbreak House (Nov. 11-Dec. 6) by George Bernard Shaw. A weekend in the country with eccentric family, screwball friends and a house full of preposterous opinions—what could possibly go wrong? Roselle Center for the Arts, 110 Orchard Rd., Newark • 831.2204 • rep.udel.edu

WILMINGTON BALLET ACADEMY OF THE DANCE

Look for the Junior Company at the Rockwood Faerie Festival on Sunday, Sept. 20, where they’ll perform a whimsical woodland ballet. The Junior Company also collaborates on a contemporary piece with Mélomanie at the DCCA’s Art Loop exhibit on Friday, Oct. 2. The real treat comes with its 48th annual presentation of The Nutcracker at The Playhouse on Rodney Square on Saturday, Dec. 12, and Sunday, Dec. 13. Dancers team up with the Metropolitan Ballet Academy in Jenkintown, Pa., as well as world-class professional dancers, a live orchestra and chorus to perform this timeless holiday classic.1709 Gilpin Ave., Wilmington 655.1004 • wilmlingtonballet.org

WILMINGTON DRAMA LEAGUE

WDL’s 83rd season opens with the Delaware Premiere of Memphis The Musical (Sept. 11-27). Directed and choreographed by Dominic Santos, this Tony Award-winning story is based on the life of Dewey Phillips, one of the first disc jockeys to bring rock ‘n’ roll to mainstream radio in the 1950s. Next, The Laramie Project (Oct. 16-25), sends the message that lack of acceptance (e.g., for the LGBT community) breeds hate and tragedy, leaving compassion as the only answer. In WDL’s Second Stage productions, Adam Montgomery takes the helm of The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man in the Moon Marigolds for one weekend (Nov. 5-8). Finally, director Ann Bartley rings in the holidays with the evergreen story of ogres, a talking donkey and a lord with a serious Napoleon complex in Shrek the Musical (Dec. 11-30).10 W. Lea Blvd., Wilmington • 764.1172 • wilmlingtondramaleague.org

WORLD CAFE LIVE AT THE QUEEN

The Queen’s fall season brings The Jayhawks on Thursday, Sept. 10, and The Marshall Tucker Band on Friday, Sept. 25. The Delaware Irish Fest says “sláinte” on Thursday, Oct. 8, with well-knowns like Byrne and Kelly, The Young Dubliners, Mythica and Danny Burns. Later, singer-songwriter John Gorka plays Thursday, Oct. 22, and country singer Ashley Monroe on Friday, Oct. 30. AEG Live presents An Intimate Evening with Joshua Radin on Monday, Nov. 2. American Idol rocker David Cook stops by on Wednesday, Nov. 11. The legendary Leon Russell performs on Sunday, Nov. 15, and the jazzy Madeleine Peyroux Trio performs on Thursday, Nov. 19. Ring in the New Year with The David Bromberg Quintet. The Queen also hosts the uber-popular and yummy Grilled Cheese & Craft Beer Tastings, with appearances by Yards Brewing Company, Mispillion River Brewing and Stone Brewing Company.500 N. Market St., Wilmington • 994-1400 • queen.worldcafelive.com

Michelle Kramer-Fitzgerald is the owner of arts publicity company Arts in Media and manager of the blog Delaware Arts Info. She is a self-described "cheerleader" for the arts and animal rescue, a die-hard Penn Stater and a doting dog mom. She's a big fan of The Beatles, Bon Jovi, strong java and red blends, and in a parallel universe, she's pretty sure she's a writer for Rolling Stone. She and hubby Scott Fitzgerald share their Wilmington home with lovable mutt Eli.